# RFID in credit cards -- latest UL
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 3, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837 "2010-12-03T17:57:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/1 "2010-12-03T17:57:25Z")
Got an email from a friend warning me about people with nefarious plans (and apparently using IPADs) who can ‘scan’ my credit cards while still in my wallet as I wander thru crowded areas.
So my questions, since this is the first I’ve heard of it:
1. I didn’t know my regular, wallet-sized credit cards _had_ rfid chips in them. Is this true? I assume there are rfid chips in those ‘easy pass’ things that you put on your keychain and wand past gas pumps, etc. But I don’t have any of those.
2. Ipads can read rfid? I would think you’d need some sort of scanner attached, but that I’m in no danger from an individual ipad, etc. I guess if they persist in rubbing their devices on my butt, I should get concerned (or maybe buy them a drink).
3. If I were to invest in the lead-lined wallet my friend is advocating, how would the TSA react to seeing this in the Porno-Scan? I’d prefer to leave the airport sans handcuffs.
Thanks to any and all who can answer this. A preliminary search on snopes doesn’t turn up anything.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/2 "2010-12-03T17:59:49Z")
Non-easy pay credit cards don’t have RFID in them.
End of story.
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### Author:  [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/3 "2010-12-03T18:02:26Z")
Thanks beowulff. That’s what I thought.
I have a gate-entry badge that works via RFID. The actual chip is a visible lump, if you look closely. No such bumps were on my credit cards.
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### Author:  [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/4 "2010-12-03T18:06:18Z")
My credit card has an RFID chip in it. No bumps other than the usual numbering bumps.
If you want to shield it, a bit of aluminum foil around the card will do the trick.
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### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/5 "2010-12-03T18:11:47Z")
> [@sachertorte](#):
>
> If you want to shield it, a bit of aluminum foil around the card will do the trick.
Or get an [RFID-blocking wallet](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/8cdd/). Although I have no idea how effective that actually is.
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/6 "2010-12-03T18:14:55Z")
> [@Bosstone](#):
>
> Or get an [RFID-blocking wallet](http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/security/8cdd/). Although I have no idea how effective that actually is.
It doesn’t say what their “Faraday cage” is made out of. If it is something like copper foil it will do a pretty darn good job of blocking RFID.
I don’t know why the OP’s buddy insists on a lead lined wallet. Maybe he thinks that RFID works with X-rays or something, or just doesn’t understand the difference between radiation shielding and radio wave shielding.
Maybe the OP should get their friend one of these:
> **[Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie](https://zapatopi.net/afdb/)**
>
> Information about psychotronic mind control blockage using an Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
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### Author:  [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/7 "2010-12-03T18:17:33Z")
“Lead-lined” was meant as sort of hyperbole. Should’ve used a smiley.😉
My normal gas station touts its easy-pass capability. Next time I fill up I’ll try waving my credit cards at the pump to see if it accepts any of them. I figure that’s a good test, right?
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### Author:  [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/8 "2010-12-03T18:21:35Z")
Yes, it is- as are most fast food outlets these days…
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/9 "2010-12-03T18:31:40Z")
> [@sachertorte](#):
>
> My credit card has an RFID chip in it. No bumps other than the usual numbering bumps.
>
> If you want to shield it, a bit of aluminum foil around the card will do the trick.
Who issues this card?
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### Author:  [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/10 "2010-12-03T18:37:31Z")
> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Who issues this card?
I have one issued by Chase. No lumps or bumps, but has a chip. [Here’s](http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/1615) a link to an article when they were introduced.
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### Author:  [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/11 "2010-12-03T18:40:17Z")
I’ve worked with RFID devices. The chip itself is very small; about a millimeter. The antenna is usually a lot larger it you want to be able to read it at a decent range.
[http://www.themajorlearn.info/pic/RFID2.jpg](http://www.themajorlearn.info/pic/RFID2.jpg)
The RFID reader uses magnetic induction to induce a current through the antenna into the RFID chip and almost any metal will interfere with the signal on a passive tag. Based on this video it appears there is almost no shielding on the new RFID Passports.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isKnDiJNPk)
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/12 "2010-12-03T18:41:17Z")
> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Who issues this card?
My wells fargo visa has no bumps or anything. Just a logo in the upper left corner. sort of four )))) with each one getting bigger from left to right. I am pretty sure it is an rfid easy pass sort of thing. I personally haven’t used it so it is possible the logo means something else.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/13 "2010-12-03T18:41:54Z")
> [@Lare](#):
>
> I have one issued by Chase. No lumps or bumps, but has a chip. [Here’s](http://www.rfidjournal.com/article/view/1615) a link to an article when they were introduced.
This is the “Blink” card, right? It’s not a standard credit card - it’s an “easy-pay” card.
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### Author:  [@LeidenFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeidenFrost)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/14 "2010-12-03T18:43:37Z")
iPads do NOT have RFID readers built in. If they did there would be some sort of appurtenance for it and an RFID scan button somewhere to activate it. However, that is not to say that someone couldn’t fit an RFID attachment to it in the comm port in the bottom.
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### Author:  [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/15 "2010-12-03T18:56:05Z")
> [@beowulff](#):
>
> This is the “Blink” card, right? It’s not a standard credit card - it’s an “easy-pay” card.
I don’t have it with me, but I didn’t request an RFID-equipped card. It just came in the mail one day (as a replacement) with paperwork telling me about the wonderful new world I was a part of. So, to me, it was just a “standard credit card.”
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/16 "2010-12-03T19:04:58Z")
> [@Lare](#):
>
> I don’t have it with me, but I didn’t request an RFID-equipped card. It just came in the mail one day (as a replacement) with paperwork telling me about the wonderful new world I was a part of. So, to me, it was just a “standard credit card.”
Interesting, since I have at least 3 new Chase cards, and none of them are of the Blink variety.
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### Author:  [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/17 "2010-12-03T19:06:16Z")
> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Interesting, since I have at least 3 new Chase cards, and none of them are of the Blink variety.
Dang. I wonder how I got on the list.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/18 "2010-12-03T19:08:53Z")
> [@Lare](#):
>
> Dang. I wonder how I got on the list.
Just “lucky”, I guess. 😃
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/19 "2010-12-03T23:09:15Z")
They’re rolling out the RFID cards in “selected markets” It makes sense to push out the cards & the card readers together, and they’ll get better test results if lots of people & lots of retailers in the same area have both halves of the puzzle.
Most CC use is close to home.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [December 4, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rfid-in-credit-cards-latest-ul/562837/20 "2010-12-04T00:26:30Z")
Yeah, Chase just replaced my Visa debit card, and it came “Blink-enabled.”
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